Obama administration makes election-year change in deportation policy

[Dave]

I'll give the president credit here, he's pretty transparent when he's pandering for votes. With all the issues that legal residents have in getting jobs, specially younger people, now its literally going to be a million times tougher with a million people having access to work that are undocumented. He's opening a can of worms that might bite him in the butt in the end.

The Obama administration announced Friday it will stop deporting illegal immigrants who come to the country at a young age.

The politically charged decision comes as Obama faces a tough reelection fight against Republican Mitt Romney, and Hispanic voters in swing states will play a crucial role in the contest.

The change in policy could allow as many as 800,000 immigrants who came to the United States illegally not only to remain in the country without fear of being deported, but to work legally, according to a senior administration official speaking to reporters Friday.

In a Rose Garden statement, President Obama said the measure would “lift the shadow of deportation” from immigrants, some of who have made “extraordinary contributions” by “serving in our military and protecting our freedom.”

“That we would treat them as expendable makes no sense,” Obama said. 

“They study in our schools, play in our neighborhoods ... they pledge allegiance to our flag, they are Americans in their hearts and minds ... and in every single way but one: on paper."

Obama was briefly interrupted by a reporter during his statement, a rare breach of protocol that caused the president to lose his temper. 

"Excuse me sir, it's not time for questions, sir, not while I'm speaking," Obama said. 

Later in his statement, Obama, pointing his finger at the reporter in front of the live TV cameras, said: "And the answer to your question, sir — and the next time I prefer you to let me finish by statements before you ask a question — is this is the right thing to do for the American people. I didn't ask for an argument, I'm answering your question."

The new policy will not grant citizenship to children who came to the United States as illegal immigrants, but will remove the threat of deportation and grant them the right to work in the United States. 

According to the Department of Homeland Security, the policy change will apply to those who came to the United States before they were 16 and who are younger than 30 if they have lived here for five years, have no criminal history, graduated from a U.S. high school or served in the military. 

A memo from DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano ordering the "prosecutorial discretion with respect to individuals who came to the United States as children" argued that those covered by the order "only know this country as home." It said these people "lacked the intent to violate the law."

The new policy will apply to individuals who are already in deportation proceedings, the memo said. 

The policy change will accomplish portions of the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, legislation that has stalled in Congress amid Republican opposition.

Obama has a massive lead over presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney among Hispanic voters, but criticism from immigration activists over the administration’s deportation policies has intensified in recent weeks. Earlier this week a government report showed the administration’s attempt to cut back on deportations of law-abiding illegal immigrants has had little effect.

Hispanic voters could be key in the swing states of Florida, Virginia, Colorado and Nevada, and elsewhere.

"It's a medium-risk, high-reward strategy," said Democratic strategist Jamal Simmons. "I think you risk angering people who are upset about immigration, yes. But for a president who’s got to win Florida, Nevada, Colorado, it is definitely something that can give the Latino community something to rally around."

A number of Republicans criticized the move, arguing it could be illegal. 

"How can the administration justify allowing illegal immigrants to work in the U.S. when millions of Americans are unemployed?" said Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. "President Obama and his administration once again have put partisan politics and illegal immigrants ahead of the rule of law and the American people."

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said on Twitter that Obama's action could be unlawful.

“President Obama’s attempt to go around Congress and the American people is at best unwise and possibly illegal,” Graham said in a Tweet. 

“This type of policy proposal, regardless of motivation, will entice people to break our laws,” Graham said in another tweet.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) praised the policy but criticized Obama for going around Congress. 

“Today’s announcement will be welcome news for many of these kids desperate for an answer, but it is a short term answer to a long term problem," the Cuban American Rubio said in a statement. "And by once again ignoring the Constitution and going around Congress, this short term policy will make it harder to find a balanced and responsible long term one.”

Rubio, a possible vice presidential candidate, has been working on his own version of the DREAM Act but has yet to release any legislative language. 

The change in policy comes eight months after the Obama administration set an annual record for deportations by removing nearly 400,000 people who were in the country illegally in fiscal 2011.

Of the 396,906 individuals removed, more than half — 216,698 — had been previously convicted of felonies or misdemeanors, which represents a 90 percent increase in the number of criminals deported over fiscal 2008, according to the numbers released by Immigration and Customs Enforcement last October.

A spokesman for Homeland Security said the department would continue to focus its enforcement resources on "the removal of individuals who pose a national security or public safety risk, including immigrants convicted of crimes, violent criminals, felons and repeat immigration-law offenders."

"Today’s action further enhances the department’s ability to focus on these priority removals," the spokesman said.

The National Immigration Law Center (NILC), an immigration reform advocacy group, lauded Obama's announcement on Friday, saying it was evidence of his "true capacity to lead." 

The group then said it was time for Congress to pass the DREAM Act.

“President Obama is showing the nation his true capacity to lead by taking the bold and courageous step to remove the fear of deportation and provide dreamers with the legal means to contribute their full potential to society," said Marielena Hincapié, the executive director for the group.

"This announcement provides real and much-needed relief now, but it is not enough. President Obama cannot provide these youth with the path to citizenship, which would allow DREAMers to participate in all sectors of civil society. We therefore renew our calls to Congress to pass the DREAM Act.”

NILC is one of the immigrant activist groups that had previously been critical of the administration's immigration policy.

"We’ve been disappointed by the administration’s record pace of deportations, and DREAMers have been among those deported," said Adela de la Torre, communications manager for the NILC, in an email to The Hill. "This is why today’s announcement is so important."

— Posted at 10:03 a.m. and last updated at 2:44 p.m. This report was corrected at 11:25 a.m.

—Amie Parnes and Mike Lillis contributed to this story.

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/232923-obama-makes-elect...

[XLFD]

Three and a half years in the making, he comes out with this.  He was just being meticulous, not pandering for votes. 

Yeah right, and I'm a Chinese jet pilot.

[Lisa O'Brien]

how can an illegal serve in our military? don't you have to have a birth certificate or SSN to enlist?

[Sweater Cows!]

I have to agree with this as "will apply to those who came to the United States before they were 16 and who are younger than 30 if they have lived here for five years, have no criminal history" People need to realize that most of these kids wouldn't know there way around Mexico any more than I would. My kid is 11 and can barely remember the details of her Disney trip two years ago It is not right to send this age group back to a shithole. But definitely send back their parents.

[Lisa O'Brien]

I agree with you WWAS, I think it is cruel and inhumane to send a child back to a third world country - when all they have ever known is the US. Being in NYC, I am surrounded by illegals, I know a girl who was brought here when she was 2 - she is no way equipped to live in a 3rd world country.

[Willy]

Lisa

Could you explain how the Government is going to verify millions of illegals. As it is now they don't have the desire or power to secure the borders. All this is, is an attempt to begin to legalize all illegals. Next we'll hear, "it isn't fair to deport their parents and leave them alone, so, we'll make the parents legal to". Can't you see where this is going?

[Willy]

How is the Government going to verify millions of illegals? How can it be proven they did not enter the country a month ago? And where does it end? I don't care who you are, if you are here illegaly then the law must be enforced. I'm sick and tired of all the bleeding hearts bending and breaking and changing the laws for their favorite cause. I can assure you there will be a huge amount of young illegals who will take advantage of this fiasco by making their way to the U.S. I hope those that agree with this will be the first to be replaced at their place of employment by an illegal. We will now have millions of new people receiving benefits which will be provided by us, the taxpayers.

[AQUAMAN]

Well said Willy, and very accurate.

[Sweater Cows!]

They are already getting the benefits, I see little change there, but now they can work(the older ones) under their real name and pay taxes,FICA etc...

As far as the law, it won't be enforced so that leaves us to find a different solution. I would much prefer to see them given a way to legal residency(not citizenship).

[AQUAMAN]

Question? WTH is the DIF between "legal residency and legal citizenship"? I just don't seen none, now, or in the past, what say you? "AnD WheRe does it END"? I asketh too? JMO

[AQUAMAN]

I know, Camel Toes!

[Sweater Cows!]

Like a person with a vacation home but inversed, (a resident alien pays double taxes, can't vote etc in that district etc...)

[Sweater Cows!]

And guys I am far from a bleeding heart. I would have no problem dropping a whole "nagasaki" experience on the middle east(particularly the middle east) or mexico. If we could get the dogs and animals out first. People meh, they are going to destroy our country from within or without or  as a country are going to attack us it is time to level them. End it all right now today. We could take out the whole Mideast adn northern half of mexico and have a great new empire. 'course who would want to live there but still....level them. We haven't had any new land takeovers in 200 years, we are getting crowded and it is not only the immigrants making that happen but I hear south texas(McMillan) is like a mexican war zone and even the people you want to deport won't go there.